ISSAQUAH, Wash., May 25, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Costco Wholesale Corporation (“Costco” or the “Company”) (Nasdaq:COST) today announced its operating results for the third quarter (twelve weeks) and first thirty-six weeks of fiscal 2017, ended May 7, 2017.

Net sales for the quarter increased eight percent, to $28.22 billion from $26.15 billion last year.  Net sales for the first thirty-six weeks increased six percent, to $84.82 billion from $80.34 billion last year.

Comparable sales for the twelve-week and thirty-six-week periods were as follows:

  12 Weeks 36 Weeks

U.S.
 
6

%
 
3

%
Canada 2% 5%
Other International     4% 0%
     
Total Company 5% 3%

Comparable sales for these periods excluding the impacts from changes in gasoline prices and foreign exchange were as follows:

  12 Weeks 36 Weeks

U.S.
 
5

%
   
3

%
Canada 3% 3%
Other International     6% 4%
     
Total Company 5% 3%

Net income for the quarter was $700 million, or $1.59 per diluted share, compared to $545 million, or $1.24 per diluted share, last year.  Net income was positively impacted by an $82 million ($0.19 per diluted share) tax benefit in connection with the $7.00 per share special cash dividend announced on April 25, 2017, to the extent to be received by the Company’s 401(k) plan participants.  Net income for the thirty six weeks was $1.76 billion, or $3.99 per diluted share, compared to $1.57 billion, or $3.56 per diluted share, last year.

Costco currently operates 732 warehouses, including 510 in the United States and Puerto Rico, 95 in Canada, 37 in Mexico, 28 in the United Kingdom, 25 in Japan, 13 in Korea, 13 in Taiwan, eight in Australia, two in Spain and one in Iceland.  Costco also operates electronic commerce web sites in the U.S., Canada, the United Kingdom, Mexico, Korea and Taiwan.

A conference call to discuss these fiscal 2017 third quarter operating results is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. (PT) on May 25, 2017, and is available via a webcast on www.costco.com (click on Investor Relations and “Play Webcast”).

Certain statements contained in this document constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.  For these purposes, forward-looking statements are statements that address activities, events, conditions or developments that the Company expects or anticipates may occur in the future.  Such forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that may cause actual events, results or performance to differ materially from those indicated by such statements.  These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, domestic and international economic conditions, including exchange rates, the effects of competition and regulation, uncertainties in the financial markets, consumer and small business spending patterns and debt levels, breaches of security or privacy of member or business information, conditions affecting the acquisition, development, ownership or use of real estate, capital spending, actions of vendors, rising costs associated with employees (including health care costs), energy and certain commodities, geopolitical conditions, and other risks identified from time to time in the Company’s public statements and reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.  Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made, and we do not undertake to update these statements, except as required by law.

COSTCO WHOLESALE CORPORATION
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
 (dollars in millions, except per share data)
(unaudited)
       
   12 Weeks Ended  36 Weeks Ended
   May 7,
2017
    May 8,
 2016
    May 7,
 2017
    May 8,
 2016
REVENUE            
Net sales $28,216  $26,151  $84,815  $80,345 
Membership fees  644   618   1,910   1,814 
Total revenue  28,860   26,769   86,725   82,159 
OPERATING EXPENSES            
Merchandise costs  24,970   23,162   75,185   71,252 
Selling, general and administrative  2,907   2,731   8,827   8,372 
Preopening expenses  15   18   52   54 
Operating income  968   858   2,661   2,481 
OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE)            
Interest expense  (21)  (30)  (81)  (94)
Interest income and other, net  18   7   40   51 
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES  965   835   2,620   2,438 
Provision for income taxes  259   286   838   847 
Net income including noncontrolling interests  706   549   1,782   1,591 
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests        (6)  (4)  (22)  (20)
NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO COSTCO $700  $545  $1,760  $1,571 
             
NET INCOME PER COMMON SHARE
  ATTRIBUTABLE TO COSTCO:
            
Basic $1.59  $1.24  $4.01  $3.58 
Diluted $1.59  $1.24  $3.99  $3.56 
             
Shares used in calculation (000’s):            
Basic  438,817   438,815   438,650   438,930 
Diluted  441,056   441,066   440,745   441,321 
             
             
Cash dividends declared per common share  $7.50  $0.45  $8.40  $1.25 


COSTCO WHOLESALE CORPORATION
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
 (amounts in millions, except par value and share data)
(unaudited)
Subject to Reclassifications
    
 May 7,
 2017
 August 28,
 2016  
ASSETS   
CURRENT ASSETS   
Cash and cash equivalents$4,538  $3,379 
Short-term investments1,187  1,350 
Receivables, net1,462  1,252 
Merchandise inventories9,736  8,969 
Other current assets333  268 
Total current assets17,256  15,218 
PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT   
Land5,505  5,395 
Buildings and improvements14,509  13,994 
Equipment and fixtures6,507  6,077 
Construction in progress803  701 
 27,324  26,167 
Less accumulated depreciation and amortization(9,789) (9,124)
Net property and equipment17,535  17,043 
OTHER ASSETS840  902 
TOTAL ASSETS$35,631  $33,163 
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY   
CURRENT LIABILITIES   
Accounts payable$9,425  $7,612 
Current portion of long-term debt1,158  1,100 
Accrued salaries and benefits2,514  2,629 
Accrued member rewards923  869 
Deferred membership fees1,479  1,362 
Other current liabilities5,895  2,003 
Total current liabilities21,394  15,575 
LONG-TERM DEBT, excluding current portion2,821  4,061 
OTHER LIABILITIES1,231  1,195 
Total liabilities25,446    20,831 
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES   
EQUITY   
Preferred stock $.005 par value; 100,000,000 shares authorized; no shares issued and outstanding0  0 
Common stock $.005 par value; 900,000,000 shares authorized; 438,679,000 and 437,524,000 shares issued and outstanding    2  2 
Additional paid-in capital5,709  5,490 
Accumulated other comprehensive loss(1,321) (1,099)
Retained earnings5,508  7,686 
Total Costco stockholders’ equity9,898  12,079 
Noncontrolling interests287  253 
Total equity10,185  12,332 
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND EQUITY$35,631  $33,163 
CONTACTS: Costco Wholesale Corporation
Richard Galanti, 425/313-8203, Bob Nelson, 425/313-8255, David Sherwood, 425/313-8239